Director’s Column
Labor of Love
By Director Barbara Palmer
September is a time for football games and the Labor Day Holiday. It is always a good idea to take a break when you can, so you return to work with renewed energy. Here at the Agency for Person with Disabilities (APD) we are hard at work on several projects and issues. A new initiative we are just starting to focus on with the Family Care Councils around the state is a recruitment effort for foster families to serve children with special needs. APD is closely collaborating with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) who oversees foster homes. FCC members plan to reach out into their local communities to identify families that are willing to become foster families for special needs children.
Speaking of foster children, APD will be meeting with DCF and administrators of the Agency for Health Care Administration on September 6 and 7 to collaborate on improving services to children. There will be a training session to review the responsibilities of each agency and ensure that all the partners are aware of the activities of the other partners. Increased dialogue will hopefully ensure everyone is on the same page in serving foster children.
A timely issue every person needs to be aware of is the Zika virus. Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) are working hard to fight the spread of this new virus which is transmitted through the bite of mosquitos. Despite all the extensive effort, the Zika virus is still in some communities. I encourage everyone to stay informed on what is happening in the fight to eradicate the Zika virus. The DOH website has the most up-to-date information which you can visit here: http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/zika-virus/index.html?utm_source=flhealthIndex . Updates on the Zika virus are available online in both English and Spanish HERE.
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